Paternoster is a fishing village situated on the west coast of South Africa approximately 160km from Cape Town. It takes about 2 hours drive to reach there. It is an old fishing center and there is a thriving crayfish industry happening there. These days along with fishing there is also a burgeoning tourism based industry.

The tourism business puts the emphasis on getting close to nature. It is in a way an eco based tourism. For good reason, this area is one of the most ideal places for this kind of tourism with its limitless small town charm and breath taking beauty.

The town is situated on a small bay which has golden colored sand covering its beaches. The beach is the only place where there are no rocks so you will be able to see fishing boats being launched from this point. It also rises steeply out of the water and is dotted by a native shrub called coastal fynbos. There are many legends connected as to how the village got its name. One legend says that a Portuguese ship wrecked here in the 16th century and when the sailors made it safely on to shore they kept chanting “Pater Noster” which is a kind of prayer in Portuguese language.

Paternoster owes much of its charm to its traditional and old architecture. In fact the zoning laws are strict and it ensures that any new building that comes up harmonizes with the present landscape. This is done so that there is a sense of harmony between man and nature. One of the main attractions of Paternoster is the Cape Columbine Nature reserve. In the middle of this preserve there is a light house which was built in 1936. It is one of the last manned light houses in South Africa today and it is still used to help maritime traffic.

Finding accommodation in Paternoster is not difficult. There is a choice between country hotels and bed and breakfast places. There are also camp sites situated at Columbine nature preserve. As far as shopping goes it is pretty basic in the town itself. If you need anything more, then there is a town named Vrendenburg just 12km up the road where you will be able to find a lot of big stores. The climate here is good overall with only a little rainfall which falls from June to August. Springtime happens in August and September.